X presents the best the region has to offer. Surprising yet familiar. X puts the South-eastern Netherlands on the international map. Limitless. Its basic elements are living, working and studying. The basic themes are culture and leisure. X is a publication of Brainport International Community (BIC). Besides this magazine for International knowledge workers (IKW's) BIC is constructing www.brainporttalentregion.com. Both aimed at promoting this region world-wide as an interesting place to study, work and live for high-tech and brainy talents. Goal is to support stakeholders, employers and educators in High-tech, Automotive and Life sciences, Food and later also Design in attracting the necessary top talent and make them feel at home.

1. edition 2010.2011
magazine for xpats
in the southeast netherlands
Xplore
Eindhoven
& Maastricht
Quiz: Are you
Dutchproof?
3 Xpats in weeks,
months, years
good
inspiration!
shops
food & drinks
museums

2. PICK UP THE FREE CITY GUIDE AND CITY MAP ‘THIS IS EINDHOVEN’
AT THE VVV TOURIST OFFICE EINDHOVEN
VVV Tourist Office Stationsplein 17 5611 AC EINDHOVEN
Information number +31 (0) 40 297 91 00
www.vvveindhoven.nl WWW.40-WATT.NL

3. p. 3 x magazine
hello! Brainport
meets
xpats in X!
X. A magazine especially created for expats.
For you. X is a guide to help you explore the
Brainport region. A region that is happy to
have you here for your contribution to the
economy and to cultural life in this lively
international community.
X alternates between need to know and nice
to know and likes to share the region’s must
sees and must do’s with you. Local experts
X is a Brainport International will divulge their best kept secrets: addresses
Community edition.
to shop, relax, and enjoy a wonderful meal.
For further information:
Experienced expats will give you a more
www.brainporttalentregion.com
www.expatguideholland.com complete picture of life in the Southeast
- Netherlands. Newcomers will explain all
This edition: 10,000 copies about the first few months as an expat,
Produced by: PreVision
because they know what it is like to have to
find your way in a new set of surroundings.
-
All rights reserved. No part of this
work may be reproduced or X would like to welcome you to the beautiful
transmitted on paper or in any Brainport region. We hope you will feel at
form, either electronic or by
home soon. Enjoy!
making photocopies or
recordings, or by any other
means, without the prior written
permission of the publisher. Yvonne van Hest
Program Manager Brainport International Community
-
Brainport International
Community is co-financed
by the Ministry of Economic
Affairs, the Provinces
Noord-Brabant and
Limburg and the city region
Eindhoven (SRE).

4. titel xpat p. 4
INDEX
XPAT
12 weeks, months, years
X is happy to tell you how nice, how great and
'gezellig' things are over here. But to be honest,
we are a little prejudiced. This is why we let 3
expats do the talking. In WEEKS (all about work),
MONTHS (finding my way), and YEARS (loving life
the Dutch way).
34 Xpat VS Xpat
Sweden VS the Netherlands, and vice versa.
Which is the best place to live?
36 I ❤ Eindhoven &
Making my Home
You came here for love. And then ... 2 women,
2 stories. Completely different, yet both at home.
62 Hello Goodbye!
Should you fail to feel at home: you can always
leave. Forever, or for a while.
Typically Dutch
18 Quiz: Are you Dutchproof?
Do you know the Dutch ins and outs?
Test yourself.
23 Hollandse Keuken
No culinary fireworks in the Dutch kitchen?
Wait till you get a taste of some of these treats …
44 Dressed in Dutch
The Dutchies like to party. Read about the hows
and whys, dress appropriately, and dance along.
48 Yes, it’s homemade
Homegrown is best. Good stuff.
See, taste, and learn.

5. p. 5 xpat titel
XPlore
11 Home is where the heart is
How to feel at ease so far away from home …
these spots have what it takes. 5 Expat favourites.
28 Xplore Eindhoven
Eindhoven may not be the most authentic city in
the Netherlands, but it is one of the most lively
ones. Those who love technology and design are
in luck here because these are the spearheads of
Eindhoven’s local policies.
40 Xplore Transfer
X loves Eindhoven, Maastricht, and everything in
between the two towns. How better to explore the
area than by bike? 80 kilometres, just you, the
surroundings, and your bike.
56 Xplore Maastricht
Maastricht– or ‘Mestreech’ as the city’s inhabitants
would say – is the oldest city in the Netherlands.
Its central location in the European region between
the Meuse and the Rhine brings a great number of
international visitors and inhabitants to Maastricht.
XPERT
50 fashion, Nature & food
Xperts in Fashion, Nature & Food tell you all
about some very special places.
For your inspiration!
60 Let’s go out
Plenty of fun to be had in the region.
So much so that it can be hard to choose.
X has made a selection for you.
and more ...
01 hello
05 x-team
07 xtra
In short: Need to know and nice to know

6. titel xpat p. 6
Looking for short stay housing?
HOUSINGXL.NL is your partner
+31(0)13-5321014 +31(0)13-5358168 Info@housingXL.nl www.housingXL.nl

7. p. 7 x magazine
x-team
Madeleine Sars will literally eat
dirt for a good cover. Three women
(model, assistant and photographer) in their
city shoes in a paddock near the Genneper
Hoeve. A shame that we do not have any
pictures of it. But we did get our cowgirl cover.
Ties van de Werff is a free-
lance researcher, writer and
curator. As a student, he lived in
Maastricht for eight years. Ties frequently
visits his second home-town, as a
teacher at the Faculty of Arts & Culture at
Maastricht University. On a good day, you
can find him reading at café Falstaff.
Maria Rudnaya was born and Yvonne van Hest is a Program
raised in Russia. She has been in the Manager for Brainport
Netherlands for almost three years. In ad- International Community, the
dition to attending a photography course at organisation which commissioned X.
the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam, she has She loves food and cooking. Her favourite
been working on her PhD at TU/e’s depart- is De Woenselse Markt in Eindhoven,
ment of Scientific Computing. Maria took especially the Saturday morning market
some photos for X, pages 28-29, 48-49. which offers food from all over the world.
Michiel Landeweerd was our
photographer for Dressed in
Dutch. He pulled out all the stops. In
the middle of a heat wave, Sinterklaas
was seen going from door to door,
Prince Carnaval donned his outfit,
and Johan Vlemmix painted the town
Orange.
X Team Credits Contributors
publisher sales Olga van Straten Thanks to
Brainport Development Jan-Koenraad Veenstra Olivia Neri Esther Schmal
www.brainportdevelopment.nl Bo Bakker Ties van de Werff Lorraine Witteveen
chief editor Holcom Rob ter Steege
Wies van Kats Photographers Janicke Kernland
art director Writers Boudewijn Bollmann Handan Kilic (cover model)
Marieke van de Graft Anoek Hofkens Madeleine Sars Lana Mesic (cover assistant)
communications Caroline van Schubert Maria Rudnaya Genneper Hoeve (cover)
Brainport Development Dagmar Steins Marielle Leenders www.genneperhoeve.nl
translator Ioana Stanescu Michiel Landeweerd and Everyone we have
Wendy Lubberding Jane Hardjono assistant Olga Ganzha interviewed

8. titel xpat p. 8
presents fall/winter 2010
MELVIN THE MACHINE
a designmachine by HeyHeyHey and many others
On view during Dutch Design Week 2010 saturday October 23rd till sunday October 31st
FUNWARE_PLAYING WITH SOFTWARE ART
an interactive and international groupshow
On view from friday November 21st, 2010 till sunday January 16th, 2011
MU partners:
Eindhovens Dagblad MU is generously supported by: mu
Blend HeyHeyHey Gemeente Eindhoven emmasingel 20
Greve Off set Brainport Provincie Noord-Brabant 5611 az eindhoven
Fatboy STRP festival Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur & Wetenschap www.mu.nl

9. p. 9 xtra text olivia van den broek-neri
xtra
Funny words
Learning Dutch can be challenging.
Here are some words that native English
speakers might find confusing.
Need to have: umbrella Frikandel (n.) a deep-fried Dutch snack, sounds like
The Netherlands enjoys a maritime climate. Summers are 'freak and dell'.
cool with an average July temperature of 19º C and winters Schoonmoeder (n.) mother-in-law, literally means
are mild with an average January temperature of 2º C. clean mother
Always carry an umbrella! There is limited sunshine and Willen (v.) want, not will
an average rainfall of about 76.5 cm. Snow and extreme Scheveningen during World War II, the Dutch would
heat are rare. For information on the weather: ask Germans to pronounce this town’s name to prove they
tel. 0900-8003 or www.weeronline.nl were not German spies!
Boterham (n.) a sandwich
Slim adj. not thin, but smart!
Driftkikker (n.) a hothead, an extremely
temperamental or violent person
Why do kliekje (n.) leftover, remainder
the Dutch Op apegapen liggen (n.) to be out of breath,
what they
to be completely knackered
mierenneuker (n., vulgar) a nitpicker, a hair-
do? splitter, someone who spends hours niggling over the
tiniest of details. (But not literally molesting insects.)
The book 'Manners in the Netherlands - Dutch Ditz' by
Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen, Lorraine T. Miller (Translator) Would you like to learn Dutch?
will help you get started. Take advantage of some of the There is a range of different language courses available
real life experiences and observations from expatriates, from certified institutes such as the ROC Eindhoven
and find out how to prevent common misunderstandings www.roceindhoven.nl or the Maastricht Talencentrum
between foreigners and the Dutch. Price: €13,50 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/languages
... from Rob van Gijzel, Chairman stichting
Brainport and Mayor of Eindhoven:
“Visit: www.brainporttalentregion.com. This portal will tell you everything you
Tips
need to know about Technology and Talent Opportunities in the Brainport
region. Dozens of Brainport ambassadors, international talents living in this
region, are on stand-by to answer your questions. We ‘Southerners’ are warm-
hearted people, but do not only take our word for it; ask your fellow country
(wo)men what they think of our region through the Brainport website.”

10. text ioana stansescu xtra p. 10
xtra
STREET INTERVIEW
If you say HEMA, you say Holland. The Dutch love
their HEMA. Inexpensive, but good quality and great
fun. X magazine wants to know the ins and outs, so
went out and asked HEMA visitors.
Henry (60) Maaike (22) Robin (23) & Heike (19)
Typically HEMA ...? Typically HEMA ...? Typically HEMA ...?
“It’s a shop for everyone, young or old, “Hema’s hotdog, no, no I mean their “Their tasty 'rookworsten', the
rich or poor. Everyone can find what 'rookworst'. Hasn't everyone heard children’s book heroes Jip &
they need at HEMA.” of it?” Janneke, and their trademark cheerful
What do you buy at HEMA? How often do you come here? packaging.”
“Painting things, film roll, and as you “At least twice a month.” How often do you come here?
can see, ice creams for my grand- What do you buy at HEMA? “Easily two to three times a month.”
children.” “Bras, make-up and all kinds of fun What do you buy at HEMA?
Is HEMA typically Dutch? little bits and bobs they sell here.” “Nail polish, notepads, those sets to
“Oh absolutely, without a doubt.” fix a flat bicycle tyre.”
... from X
Crossroads is an English-language web magazine aimed at the international community in
Tips and around Maastricht. Sueli Brodin is the driving force behind Crossroads, something which
won her the title of Expat of the Year 2010. Read all about her favourite spot in Maastricht on
page 55. crossroadsmag.eu

11. p. 11 xtra text olivia van den broek-neri
Tips xtra
... from Jasper de Groot,
“There is a lot Director of Pararius.com
of support for Do not take any chances when you are trying to find a
entrepreneurs in home. “Always start with a viewing day and view a
Holland” variety of five to ten rental properties. You will get a
great reading about what is available on the Dutch
True entrepreneurs will see new opportunities in every market. Only then, hunt for properties that exactly
country. But support is always welcome. In the Netherlands, meet your requirements. Let your rental agency
many other expats have preceded you. One of them is Ashish arrange the best possible deal.”
Dharap. He moved to the Netherlands to work for Atos
Origin and started iKAnesys when he saw market potential
for his ideas (innovation and idea management). He sought
and found help from the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber
of Commerce). According to Ashish Dharap: “The business
registration process was particularly smooth, which comes as Nice to meet you!
a surprise to many expats”. The Kamer van Koophandel has X is the way to get to know the area.
recently released an English Starters Guide, which highlights But if you prefer to meet face-to-face, you
all aspects involved with starting a business. Request a free could join one of these meeting groups.
guide at www.kvk.nl/startersguide. And he has another tip A small selection:
for new entrepreneurs: “Always keep the key parameters of
your business at the top of your mind and always know your • IWC Eindhoven / www.iwce.nl
numbers -- even better than your accountant.” • IWC South Limburg / www.iwc-sl.nl
• Tilburg International Club
www.tilburginternationalclub.com
• MEETin EINDHOVEN
www.meetin.org/city/MEETinEINDHOVEN
www.meetup.com/EindhovenExpats/
• MEETin Maastricht
www.meetin.org/city/MEETinMAASTRICHT
• Living with a Dutchie / www.livingwithadutchie.nl
• Mums and Toddlers in Eindhoven
www.mumsandtoddlers.org
• The Thistle Club of Scottish Country Dancing
www.thistleclub.nl
• North American Women’s Club
www.nawceindhoven.com
• The Association of Chinese Students and
Scholars in Eindhoven / www.acsse.nl
• Amigos de la Cultura Hispano-Americana
Tel. 040-246 50 05
• Couchsurfing, international meetings in cities
all over the world / www.couchsurfing.org

12. titel xpat p. 12
xtra
Holland has it ...
... a great website for
internationals who are looking
for a rental property.
- over 100,000 Dutch rental properties available -
- all listings in six languages -
- free access -
- extensive information on properties -
- google maps -
- google streetview -
- international oriented rental agencies -
- mobile website for iPhone -

13. p. 13 xplore text ioana stanescu photo boudewijn bollmann
home is
where
the heart is
15Daydreaming among
the leaves as if it
were my own back
garden
-
“I grew up on the coast, in an arid, sandy
climate. This is why I simply adore the
green parks in the Netherlands. Lying in
the grass, I empty my mind and leave my
worries and stress behind. I often ride
my bicycle to the park like a real Dutch
person. Sometimes I will take a book, or
something to feed the ducks. This park
feels like my own back garden, I can easily
dream away the afternoon here.”
-
Letitia Fung was Born in Hong
Kong, raised in Portugal and has
lived in the Netherlands for four
years. she is Communications
Manager at De Lage Landen and
she loves Stadswandelpark
Eindhoven
> 2/5 on page 21

14. text anoek hofkens photo madeleine sars xpat p. 14
weeks
months
years
-
what is it like to work here? Three expats tell
their stories from their experience: as a newcomer,
as someone who has been here a while, and as
someone who intends to stay.
Name “SABIC is an international company where everyone speaks English,
Diego Castaneda which has made it easy to fit in. I came to the Netherlands especially
Age for this job and I have enjoyed it so far. The atmosphere is open, we
29 all address each other by our first names, it is great! But in order to
Place of Birth create a life for myself I have to step out; go into town, meet new
Medellin, Colombia people. The SABIC welcoming dinner (held three hours after my
Employer arrival in the Netherlands) helped me establish my first contacts.
SABIC (geleen) It immediately made me feel welcome.
Position Afterwards I went out and bought a map of Maastricht, where I live.
Technology I am starting to find my way around here. But the thing that is going
Development Engineer in to take some getting used to is the eating habits. In Colombia you
the plastics field will have a breakfast fit for a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a
- poor guy. This is the way things are in the Netherlands: you will eat
Likes breakfast like a poor guy, lunch like a poor guy, and you will dine like
intercity trains; a king. Because I still prefer to eat later on in the evening, I have to
they feel go shopping in time. If I want to buy a carton of milk at six o’clock in
like business class the evening, the supermarket will have run out of milk and I will have
Enjoys watching to go to a night shop where milk will fetch the price of a nice whisky.
cartoons to learn Dutch I simply do not get it.
Finds it extraordinary And another thing that has surprised me is the number of bicycles!
that women ask They are like flies: they are everywhere. Buying a bicycle is one of my
men to dance goals for this year. I want to adapt as well as I can because I would
like to stay here for a long time. I would not yet dare to say forever;
Colombia and Germany also have a special place in my heart. For now
I will concentrate on my work. I intend to become famous among my
colleagues.”

15. p. 15
“I want to make a
career for myself”

16. text anoek hofkens photo madeleine sars xpat p. 16
weeks
months
years
Name "My first time in The Netherlands: I remember arriving at the central
Qi Wang station in Eindhoven, carrying two heavy suitcases. Someone saw me
Age and helped me out. I did not even have to ask. Afterwards an elderly
29 man showed me the way to my hotel. I then realised how friendly and
Place of Birth helpful Dutch people are.
China I had never lived abroad before coming to the Netherlands. One of my
Employer colleagues from China was already working at the TU/e and he told
TU/e, Eindhoven me there were more vacancies, so I took my chance and as you can
Position see I was lucky enough to get the position. The work itself does not
postdoctoral differ very much; the big difference lies in the fact that everything is
Chemical Engineering well-organised, especially the safety issue in the workplace. I notice
- I am still used to the high work pressure in China, even after having
Has discovered been away from that for a few months. Taking a break from work to
that Chinese food in have a chat is not something I do very often. Back home it is impossi-
the Netherlands is not ble to take a long vacation. People in Holland can really enjoy life. So
Chinese food I have been thinking a lot about life and work since I have been here.
Is amazed by I could not say if what I am doing now is something I will want to do
the Dutch propensity forever. Finding a job that suits me is one of my main goals. In China
for interrupting people do not focus on the things they feel passionate about, they
each other during just make random choices.
conversations I would like to get to know Dutch people, but I am very shy. I feel as
Would like to if there is no common ground, that we will have nothing to talk about,
find clothes that will fit. because of our different backgrounds. I think it would be good for me
Trousers especially to learn some Dutch. I will be staying for 12 months, but who knows,
as they will often perhaps I can stay longer. I would like that. Holland is very clean and
be too long quiet, but the shops should definitely be open every Sunday. I like it
here, even though I do not feel Dutch at all. One time I bought a
herring and fried it; I think that says it all."

17. p. 17
"People in Holland
can really enjoy
life"

18. text anoek hofkens photo madeleine sars xpat p. 18
weeks
months
years
Name "I fell in love with the Netherlands when I came to a secondary
Daniel Keszthelyi school in Zuid Limburg for a year as an exchange student in 2000.
Age My Hungarian classmates did not understand why I went to Holland;
26 they thought I went for the drugs, or because I might be gay. But
Place of Birth that was not true; to me, this was the land of optimism, freedom, and
Pécs, Hungary opportunity. A feeling that was only strengthened by the experience.
Employer After I got my Master’s degree in medicine in my home country, I
Faculty of Health, flew back to start a life here in Maastricht. I got a great deal of help
Medicine and Life Science, from my host family in Stein, with whom I had stayed during my
Maastricht exchange year. They also helped me with the Dutch language, which
University Function I speak fluently now. I still see them every Saturday and I love them
Doctor of Medicine just as much as I love my Hungarian family. My birth mum has had
- some trouble dealing with this. But I see it as something that enriches
Likes my life here, because I want to stay. The Dutch mentality matches
erwtensoep (Dutch pea soup my personality. The Dutch are more broad-minded, they are more
eaten in winter) assertive, and work-wise you can get ahead if you perform well as an
Misses individual. This works well for me. I lead a better life here than I did
offal in Hungary. Over there a young doctor would be working his fingers
Believes to the bone for € 500 a month, after tax, something which I think is
it is a sign of prosperity just depressing. I realise I am continuing the braindrain by staying
that so many Dutch people here, but I do not feel a personal responsibility for the situation the
play sports country is in. I need to think of my own life, and I am happy over
Would like to here. But I will always feel connected to my native country. Until I
vote during am buried six feet under I will always be a Hungarian. My children
the national elections will be born in the Netherlands, but they will become familiar with
their father’s culture as well. As a doctor I would like to specialise as a
GI-doctor (gastrointestinal) and I would like to continue to work as a
House Officer at the Atrium Medisch Centrum in Brunssum, and as a
sports physician at sports events. Only having a girlfriend could make
me happier."

19. p. 19
“The Dutch mentality
matches my personality”

20. text ioana stanescu illustration marieke van de graft typically dutch p. 20
ARE YOU
DUTCH
PROOF?

21. p. 21
In the Netherlands you will find chips with mayonnaise, vast
landscapes, canals and boats. But this is not all there is to the
Netherlands. Our pop quiz will test your general knowledge, but
beware: we will not go easy on you. Good luck!
❶ How many people in the world speak ❻ When a baby is born, the new parents
Dutch as their native language? will treat their friends and family to ...
A. 16 Million. A. Dutch rusk with aniseed sprinkles.
B. 23 Million. B. apples.
C. 25 Million. C. a cheese board.
D. 30 Million. D. a glass of jenever.
❷ When a secondary school student ❼ You are a guest at a Dutch family home.
passes his/her final exams after much When you go to the toilet, you will find …
blood, sweat and tears, then … A. a birthday calendar.
A. the graduates will go away on an excursion. B. a standing toilet.
B. he/she will fly the Dutch flag, with their school bag C. a bowl of peppermints.
and all the books, from their bedroom window. D. a bidet to rinse your behind.
C. the school teachers will cook their students a fancy meal.
D. his/her name will appear in the local newspaper. ❽ To what do the Dutch attribute their
thrifty nature?
❸ How many bicycles does an average A. To their moods, brought on by the weather.
Dutch person lose because of theft in B. To their upbringing.
the course of his/her life? C. The Dutch are not really thrifty but they do not
A. Around 20, with a bit of bad luck. actively dispute the prejudice.
B. One or two at most. D. To Calvinism.
C. Exactly as many as he/she steals back.
D. All the bicycles are common property, so there is no ❾ Why is 'Carnaval' celebrated mainly in
theft. Brabant & Limburg?
A. Because Northerners are more subdued in nature.
❹ How many millions of Euros do the B. Because Northerners think that 'Carnaval' is a
Dutch spend on 'drop' (liquorice) each year? proletarian affair.
A. 2 Million Euros per year. C. Because 'Carnaval' is originally a Catholic
B. 10 Million Euros per year. celebration, and the North of the Netherlands was a
C. 135 Million Euros per year. Protestant region historically.
D. 300 Million Euros per year. D. Because Northerners celebrate 'Carnaval’s'
counterpart 'Luilakken'.
➎ Why do some Dutch people eat their
sandwiches with knife and fork? ❿ What would a 'Brabants kwartiertje'
A. It is etiquette. mean?
B. They do not like to use their hands when they eat. A. A casual meeting in the lobby at the office.
C. It makes them eat more slowly which benefits the B. A morning coffee.
digestive system. C. When a scheduled appointment starts later.
D. Because the Dutch like symmetry and order, even D. Waiting for the delayed public transport in the
on their plates. Brabant region.

22. typically dutch p. 22
The
score
Oops, sorry, a pathetic result! Luckily you have this
magazine full of tips and stories. Venture into the lion’s
The
den (not wearing wooden shoes, please, but fashionable
footwear like the rest of us) and explore. No need for
answers
Dutch courage, simply start your day with a glass of
milk, and having a kroketje* at the snack bar for lunch
will help you get in the mood for Dutchness.
❶ A For the Flemish and the Surinamese, Dutch is
their native language as well.
❷ B Every year in June you will see flags and bags
flying happily in the wind all across the country.
❸ A Unfortunately, stolen bikes are a frequently
occurring phenomenon, especially in the larger You are on your way to fathoming the down-to-earth
cities. and subdued Dutch, but we would not exactly call you a
❹ C This comes down to e 8.40 euros on average connoisseur. We tend to hold back on the compliments,
per person. but you knew that already.
❺ D It has never been scientifically proved, but
instinctively true.
❻ A Dutch rusks with aniseed sprinkles are
popularly called ‘beschuit met muisjes’ (little
mice). During the Middle Ages, women were
served aniseed after childbirth because it was
believed to stimulate lactation. Bravo, our hats off to you! Our quiz is not easy, so you
❼ A This will remind you of people’s birthdays in have amazed us. We are even feeling a little as if so-
time, because in the Netherlands, birthdays meone were taking us for a ride... are you sure you are
are a big thing. Remember not just to congra- not…You’re Kees, aren’t you! Very funny!
tulate the birthday girl or boy, but also their
partner, parents, and close friends. * A deep-fried snack, with a warm, beef ragout filling
and a crispy breadcrumb coating.
❽ D It refers to a certain lifestyle: sober, subdued,
frugal.
❾ C Protestants abhor debauchery.
❿ C Brabanders are easygoing and therefore not
as punctual as the people living in the North
Suggested reading:
of the country.
X magazine
The Undutchabels - Colin White & Laurie Boucke
www.holland.com/global

23. p. 23 xplore
xpat text
titel ioana stanescu photo boudewijn bollmann
home is
where
the heart is
25
Nice people and
great food make
me feel like home
-
“My wife and I would drive past this
restaurant every week, on our way to the
gym. It looked so ‘local’ that we did not
dare go in, in spite of our curiosity. We
finally ventured into the lion’s den. Since
then we have come here on a regular
basis. The service is personal; they know
us and our tastes very well. I rarely see
the wine menu these days because I like
the way they keep surprising me.”
-
Yasushi Kusume was Born in
Japan, and has lived in the
Netherlands since 1990, with a
brief stint in Vienna.
He is Vice-President of Philips Design
and he loves Restaurant
De Cuijt, Burg. Termeerstr. 50
Mierlo
> 3/5 on page 33

24. titel xpat p. 24
Living the green life
You do the best you can. You’re in a job that suits you into an attractive, spacious and first and foremost,
and your career perfectly. Now all you need is the green residential area on the edge of a large park. This
house that goes with the job and more importantly: makes Strijp R a perfection location for a green and
your family. You’re looking for space, lots of green, real prosperous life. Sales will start before the end of this
durability, expressive architecture and if at all possible year. Building will start in 2011 and the first of the
all of this about 10 minutes cycling from Eindhoven residences will be yielded in 2012.
City Centre. Strijp R is the answer to all your wishes. Please check the website for the latest information.
This former industrial area, is going to be developed
www.strijpr.nl

25. p. 25 typically dutch text Franke Elshout photo Marielle leenders
hollandse
keuken
-
Dutch cuisine is not famous for its culinary fireworks.
a.k.a. dutch kitchen
A mistake. Treat yourself to these mouth-watering
ultra-Dutch sensations. Tickle those tastebuds!
About the creators of these recipes: Franke was a student at Design Academy Eindhoven
For eight years Franke Elshout and Maarten Lockefeer and puts her heart and soul into her profession as a
have been working together on a range of unique projects Food Designer. You can check out their company
in which food and drink have always played a central role. Keukenconfessies at www.keukenconfessies.nl.

26. p. 26
Mini Speculaasjes-apple pies
with cardamom and vanilla sugar
Serves 10
Ingredients Recipe
For the crust 1. Prepare the crust using the butter, the
200 grams flour / 200 grams butter / egg, and the flour.
150 grams sugar / 1 egg / a pinch of salt 2. Peel and dice the apples.
Mix these with the other ingredients.
For the filling Choose a few small-sized baking tins (or
1.5 kilograms Elstar or Goudreinet apples / small flower pots lined with baking paper, or
½ teaspoon cardamom (in powdered form, or open the pods and old tins).
grind the seeds) / 1 tablespoon custard powder / a few tablespoons 3. Whip the cream with the cold custard mix
of sugar, to taste / grated zest of orange or lemon if desired and the vanilla sugar, or ladle into a Gourmet
Whip, and pipe onto the warm apple pies.
For the vanilla foam
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar / a tablespoon custard powder
mixed with a splash of milk / 200 ml whipping cream

27. p. 27 typically dutch
Vla-Flip trifle with a crumble of
traditional Dutch biscuits
Serves 10
Ingredients Recipe
2 litres whole milk / 1. Crumble the biscuits and press them down into a small cake tin,
½ packet of an assortment traditional a glass, or a recycled plastic pudding container.
Dutch biscuits, for instance: 2. Prepare one type of pudding after another (allow each layer to set in the
bitterkoekjes (macaroons) sprits fridge before you make the next). Follow the instructions, but use 0.45 litres
(buttercookies), stroopwafels of milk instead of the 0.5 indicated on the packet.
(caramel filled wafers), bokkenpootjes 3. Start with one pudding flavour and spread a layer over the biscuit crumble.
(chocolate dipped log cookies) / Then continue your layers with a selection of lovely colours and tasty flavours
4 different 0.5 litre instant pudding such as 'bitterkoekjes', semolina, custard, strawberry, mocha.
powders / 1 packet good red fruit jelly 4. The last layer should be a good red fruit jelly or a layer of gelatine with
or gelatine to mix with redcurrants, redcurrants and redcurrant juice.
fresh or frozen / redcurrant sauce 5. Leave your trifles to set in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours.
from a bottle or packet 6. Serve with any left-over biscuits and some redcurrant sauce.
This is not really 'vla', which is a runny Dutch custard, but rather a pudding.
It is typically Dutch: inexpensive but yummy. A guaranteed success thanks to the instant pudding mixes.

28. Pure strength of interior design
The art of temptation

29. Dutch language
training for
highly skilled
migrants &
knowlegde workers.
Small groups
Evening classes
Emphasis on speaking
Effective and affordable
Including intake and testing
Roelofspad 10 / 5645 JG Eindhoven
T. +31 (0) 40 211 31 01
info@easynl.nl / www.easynl.nl

30. p. 30
xplore
eindhoven
-
Eindhoven has lots of great shops, fashionable cafés,
and places to eat. And should you grow tired of the
urban bustle, this Southern Dutch town offers plenty of
beautiful places to escape to. Check these out!
12.00pm A Dash of Art a tasty lunch. Usine is well-known
for its urban and international
Bang in the middle of the city outlook. Do not miss the beautiful
centre is the Witte Dame. This white bathrooms!
building used to be a Philips factory,
but today it is home to a range of
different institutions. In addition to
the library and Design Academy, you
will find MU here, where you can
see contemporary art mixed with fa-
shion, architecture, and new media.
09.00am Starting the Day At the Krabbedans (on the left side
of the building) you can look at as
Start your day with a good breakfast well as buy or borrow art.
at Bagel & Juice, the place to find
freshly baked bagels and healthy
juices. You will find the café in the
cosiest little street (Kleine Berg) in 14.00pm Multiculturalism
Eindhoven. It is a favourite haunt for
Design Academy students. In Eindhoven’s best-known market
square (Woenselse Markt- Kruis-
10.00am Shopping straat) you would think you were
somewhere abroad. With more than
Shopping for the mainstream brands 500 market stalls you will find a
can be done in the Rechtestraat and host of exotic foodstuffs, in addition
Piazza. But if you want something to the more standard market fare.
special, then lose yourself in one of Feeling peckish after this? Then have
the cute little shops in the Bergen. 13.00pm Lunch in the City lunch at one of the international
Do not skip Magda (young women’s eateries in the neighbourhood. We
fashion with a twist) on the Berg- To the right of the Witte Dame recommend Sang Lee Rotishop at
straat, Heijmans Delicatessen (Spa- building you will find another icon number 206, Kruisstraat, for Eastern
nish, French, and Italian delicacies) of the city: the light tower. On the and Surinamese delicacies.
on the Kleine Berg, or Motta (art and ground floor you will find Grand The market is held Saturdays from
design bookshop) on the Grote Berg. Café Usine where you can tuck into 10.00am - 5.00pm.

31. p. 31 xplore text Olga van Straten Photo Maria Rudnaya / Olga Ganzha
a favourite hang-out for tourists, but
18.00pm Sightseeing Strijp you will also run into fellow expats
regularly. Cheers!
Strijp-S, the former Philips indus-
trial area is fast becoming the city’s
creative heartbeat. Check out the
beautiful old industrial buildings
where today’s designers and artists
have found a place to work. Strijp-S
is also revealing itself as a Valhalla
for Urban Sports. This is where Monk
is situated (the Netherlands’ first
15.00pm Relaxing bouldering accommodation) and
Area 51 as well (a 3000 sqm skating
After all the hustle and bustle in the park).
city you can find peace and quiet by
taking a walk in the municipal park, 22.30pm Let the Night Begin
Stadswandelpark. Take a look at the
thirty sculptures scattered among There are not many clubs in Eind-
the trees. Adjacent to the park you hoven, because here, the mentality
will find the Genneper Parken. of ‘let’s get these tables out of the
A natural area offering a range of way so we can dance' reigns. So this
indigenous plants. Take a look is what they do at cafés Berlage and
around the eco-farm de Genneper Hoogste Tijd. During the summer
Hoeve. Do sit down for a drink at months the parties run on into the
Paviljoen Genneper Parken! You can streets, creating a warm and fun
also rent a bike in the Rijwielshop. atmosphere outside.
19.00pm Wine & dine in style
KB 23 is a modern restaurant in an
old setting. You can look down into
the wine cellar through the glass
plates in the floor. And do not forget
to look up as well, where you will see
the old beams way up into the top
of the roof. Restaurant/winebar
JIU.NU offers an international menu
with an Asian touch, and where you
can taste as well as buy a wide range
17.00pm Lazy afternoon of fine wines. Key words: exclusive, … Good night, sleep tight…
modern, professional. "Life's too
Ons has a unique dining balcony short to drink bad wine!" is their Best Western Premier Art Hotel is
and its lovely sidewalk terrace looks fitting motto. The place to go to for situated in the Lichttoren, an old
out onto the city’s largest church, a good wine recommendation. industrial building formerly owned
the Catharinakerk. In this snug little by Philips. Perfectly located in the
eatery you can spend a lazy, relaxed 21.30pm Pub Crawl heart of the city and with its own
afternoon. A varied menu for vegeta- restaurant and world bar. Easily
rians and meat eaters. Plus delicious O'Sheas Irish Pub: loud and rough, the trendiest place to sleep in all of
desserts like the home-made ‘Death as a real pub should be. Order a pint Eindhoven. And the safest one: right
by chocolate’-cake, which has not of lager, assume your fake Irish ac- across the street from the police
been named that way for nothing … cent, and join in the fun. The pub is station ...

32. xplore p. 32
09.00am 14.00pm 19.00pm
➊ Bagel & Juice / Kleine Berg 19 ➏ Woenselse markt / Kruisstraat ➊ KB 23 / Kleine Berg 23
Open from 08.00 am. ➏ Sang Lee Rotishop / Kruisstraat 206 Closed Mondays.
JIU. NU / Willemstraat 9
10.00am 15.00pm Closed Tuesdays.
➊ Kleine Berg, ➋ Grote Berg & ➐ Stadswandelpark, ➐ Genneper Richting 21.30pm
➌ Bergstraat Parken, ➐ Genneper Hoeve ‘s-Hertogenbosch,
Some shops on the Bergen are closed Tongelreeppad 1 / www.genneperhoeve.nl Amsterdam Pub
O’Sheas Irish en
on Mondays. ➐ Paviljoen Genneper Parken Nijmegen
Jan van Lieshoutstraat 9
Antoon Coolenlaan 2a 7 days a week: 12:00pm till 02:00am
12.00pm www.paviljoengenneperparken.nl (Saturday and Sunday till 04.00am).
Closed 20 December-28 February 2011
➍ Witte Dame / Emmasingel ➑ Rijwielshop / Stationsplein 22 22.30pm
➍ MU / Monday-Friday 10.00am-5.00pm. Rental € 6.50 per day, deposit € 50.00.
Admission 2 Euros, free on Wednesday Hoogste Tijd / Vrijstraat 38
afternoons. 17.00pm During weekends, doors close at
➍ Krabbedans Tuesday- Sunday 4.00 am.
12.00-5.00pm, Fridays until 9.00pm. ➒ Ons / Kerkstraat 16 ➊ Berlage / Kleine Berg 16
ORPHEUSLAAN
VAN OLDENBA
Admission free. 11.30am-02.00am.
BO
18.00pm EUROPALAAN Oct-May closed for Sunday lunch
SC
HD
13.00pm Best Western Premier Art Hotel
IJK
➓ Strijp-S, Monk bouldergym Lichttoren 22, www.arthoteleindhoven.com
➎ Usine / Lichttoren 6 Strijp S, Entrance 3 Glaslaan,
Open from 9.00am. Saturday and Building SBX. www.monkbouldergym.nl
Sunday from 10.00am. Area 51 / Klokgebouw 51
AN
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33. WHAT’S
THAT’S
In the city is where it all happens. There you find the thrill in
the air inviting you to enjoy the good things in life. That’s the
place to be. You’ll experience this in Hartje Eindhoven where
living in the city will be raised to a higher level. Large and
small. Luxurious and upbeat. To rent and to buy. In all different
atmospheres the world has to offer. Building work has already
started and sales begin in February 2011. So for all you people
out there who want to come and live in Eindhoven for a short or
longer period, Hartje Eindhoven is yours for the taking!

34. POP kapper
Cosmopolitic hair fashion, professional stylists and colourists.
Our products:
Sebastian, Sassoon,
Redken, Label M
& our own
POP haircare!
design www.kokett.nl
Open:
mon-thur 9.30 till 18.30
fri 9.30 till 21.00
sat 9.30 till 17.00
International jewellery-design and craftsmanship
Eindhoven Maastricht
Catharinaplein 25 Rechtstraat 80
5611 DE Eindhoven 6221 EL Maastricht
040 - 283 26 20 043 - 325 10 20
www.cecilevaneeden.nl info@cecilevaneeden.nl

35. p. 35 xplore text dagmar steins photo boudewijn bollmann
home is
where
the heart is
35
Water brings me
back to the coast
where i grew up
-
“Water always reminds me of my own
country. I grew up near the sea where
I could hear the seagulls every day.
That is why I love this café so much. It’s
nothing like a typical Dutch place. This
bar is really open and light. Sitting on the
terrace I can not only see the water, but
also the new city and the old one. In the
summertime you can get a chaise longue.
I like to bring a book and relax. It gives me
that real Southern European feeling I love
so much.”
-
Cláudia Vaz was Born and raised
in Portugal and has lived in
the Netherlands for 13 years.
she is a Business Development
Manager at DSM and she Loves
Café Zuid, Plein 1992 15,
Maastricht
> 4/5 on page 43

36. p. 36
xpat
VS
“The Swedes really
live only five months
a year”
xpat
Harry de Vos (54, Dutch) and then to continue their work at home at eight in
Senior Vice President Human Resources the evening.
at ASML, worked and lived in Sweden for Best experience as an expat?
three years My 50th birthday, which turned out to be a real cele-
- bration in Sweden. My colleagues had organised a big
Why Sweden? reception with speeches and gifts. It was quite special.
I got a great job at the Swedish company Elektrolux. What did you miss?
What did you like about Sweden? A social life. As a commuter, travelling home every
The ambiance in the summer, which is very lively. weekend, I was often alone during the week.
People are happy: they play, have barbecues and Typically Swedish?
have fun in the park. Snus. Horrible. Even during meetings, people will put
What did you dislike? those little tobacco-bags in their mouths. It smells like
The dark winters, the retreat indoors. The lack of cat litter.
light has a big impact on everything, especially your Who has the coolest attitude?
mood. The Swedes. They may not always be cheerful, and
Biggest difference with the Netherlands: they can be quite distant. But they are great to have
The light. And the flexible working hours. In Sweden, drinks with, once they get to know you. Swedes really
there are more arrangements for employees with love to get drunk, especially during Midsummer´s Eve.
children. I had to get used to people leaving at three Then they all party as if they had not properly lived
in the afternoon to pick up their kids from school, for seven months.

37. p. 37 xpat text ties van de werff photo madeleine sars
“The Dutch are
not patient enough”
Home sweet home,
or, is the grass really
greener on the other side?
X put the question to the test:
Harry de Vos and
Pär Broman compare and
contrast their homeland and
expat-country.
The Netherlands VS Sweden.
And vice versa.
Pär Broman (29, Swedish) Strangest experience as an expat?
a design engineer at ASML, has worked and 'Carnaval'. I tried to join in, but I really did not under-
lived in the Netherlands for five years stand it. And getting my contract. For my contract,
- I needed health insurance. For that, I needed a bank
Why the Netherlands? account. But in order to get a bank account, I needed
I was an exchange-student and met a girl here. Since a contract. Weird.
we both have great jobs, we decided to stay. What do you miss?
What do you like about the Netherlands? It is difficult to buy an affordable, good-size piece
Life is very efficient. There is a lot to see and do within a of fish. Then again, we Swedes can always go to the
short distance. And you can ride your bike everywhere. IKEA-food shop.
What do you dislike? Typically Dutch?
People here are impatient in conversations. If you do Family days. In Sweden, we do not organise family
not start speaking immediately, someone else will pick days, apart from Christmas and Midsummer´s Eve.
up and you will never get your say in meetings. This Who has the coolest attitude?
has taken some getting used to. The Dutch are more open and easier to approach.
Biggest difference with Sweden: We are more reserved. But we do stop and think
The space, and the amount of people living in it. Even about what we are going to say, instead of just saying
the distance between the shelves in the supermarket something.
is smaller here.

38. text jane hardjono photo mike roelofs xpat p. 38
i
eindhoven
-
city of dreams: a true story in III parts
by Jane Hardjono
A nightmare for some philosophies. I formed a network made up of bona fide
I had been asked many times why I wanted to leave Eindhovenaars and other Dutchies, as well as some
Melbourne. Why would I want to leave my job and English, Germans and South Africans.
the whole career I had built there? And what about
my brilliant friends and awesome family? When A dream come true
I decided to leave Australia four years ago, I was A couple of years ago I was out with two very good
ready to say a permanent goodbye to the advertising friends – Dutch girls I had befriended via TAC. Over
industry and do something completely different. dinner we all said we would like to do something
I wanted to know whether, as a single girl, I could entrepreneurial, or maybe try some individual projects.
be really independent. I wanted to stop working for We all joked that we should stop dreaming and just do
'the man', be my own boss and become a freelance our own things, leave our jobs. Hey, we could share an
writer. My destination was Amsterdam. On the way office!
I met a lovely young Dutchman and took a detour Since April this year I have been sharing an office in
via Eindhoven. I never left. Eindhoven with these very two girls. And I am a free-
lance writer. I saw one of my office-mates get married
Dreamers: my kind of people and she will soon become a mother. I feel so privileged
In Australia, I never belonged to a tribe as such. to be a witness to such important milestones in her life.
I was more of a friend collector. From the minute I What is interesting to me is when you get to a certain
arrived in Eindhoven I knew I would not take on an age, people do not want more friends. But these Dutch
instant friendship group. It was going to take effort girls chose me; now they form part of my immediate
to continue my careful curation of friendships. Five community and they encourage me to be my best self,
months after arriving, I married the lovely young the way any other friend would do – whether I would
Dutchman. Beyond his friends and family, I met some be in Melbourne, Paris or even New York. However, in
inter-national people through my work. When I took this version of girl-meets-boy-and-they-live-happily-
up some volunteer work at the Temporary Art Centre ever-after, all the girl’s dreams come true … in
(TAC) I started to meet locals interested in the arts Eindhoven.
and culture; people actively exploring their personal

39. p. 39
Jane Hardjono (35) said goodbye to
Australia to become a writer.
While travelling she met her husband
and stayed in Eindhoven where she
started The Dossier, documenting the
pursuit of culture and the creative sector
in Eindhoven. Jane’s motto is: “Embrace
wherever you are.”
Check www.thedossier.nl

40. p. 40
Olivia van den Broek- Neri (31) is
a native Californian who earned a
B.A. in Journalism from Pepperdine
University, and moved to the
Netherlands after marrying her
Dutch husband. She is a regular
contributor to publications for
expats living in the Netherlands,
including ACCESS Magazine and
ExpatGuideHolland.com.

41. p. 41 xpat text olivia van den broek-neri photo michiel landeweerd
making
my home
-
Moving is one thing; making a home is another.
by Olivia van den Broek-Neri
Once the initial excitement of moving to a new coun- anyone’s social calendar. At my first meeting, I eagerly
try wore off, I found myself yearning for friendships picked from the 13 special interest groups and before
like those I had left behind in my native California. long was participating in the bi-weekly Dutch and
Over time I met people, but even my extroverted self Spanish Conversation groups, and attending Gourmet
found it difficult to form friendships. As understan- Club gatherings. I also became the editor of the club’s
ding as my husband was, there were times when I newsletter.
needed to have someone with whom I could just talk;
I needed friends. But there are also informal gatherings. Over lunch and
coffee dates, my new friends and I catch up on recent
Hello, my name is… travels and upcoming dinner parties. We also take day
I did not know where to begin. The last time I was trips to must-see attractions such as Keukenhof, and
forced to make new friends was when I went off to stores that sell American and British food items. In
college; but everyone was in the same situation and the process, friendships are formed. Even though we
was eager to make new friends. Luckily, I disco- come from different backgrounds – and 34 different
vered the International Women’s Club of Eindhoven countries – we all face the same problems, such as the
(IWCE). Finally, a solution! hard 'g' in Dutch and the seemingly constant rain. But
we deal with it together and we bond.
Upon entering my first IWCE general meeting at
Thermae Son, my 'Visitor' name tag attracted a One year later
swarm of friendly faces asking lots of questions. A lot has changed since that first meeting I atten-
“Where are you from? How long have you lived here? ded one year ago. Frequent lunch dates, barbecues,
Do you like living here? Don’t you miss California?” potlucks, and outings have resulted in long-lasting
These women seemed genuinely interested in lear- friendships. My husband often asks, “How do you find
ning my story and interested in forming friendships so much to talk about?” I respond: “Oh, there’s always
with me. I was in the right place! something to talk about.” And lucky for me, there is
always someone who will listen!
I was busy in no time
The IWCE offers many activities, which can easily fill